The first execute ses of H1N1 flu vaccine were given to children today, a day after health care workers began acquire ting execute ses in what is likely to be the largest flu vaccination campaign in U.S. hitale .
These early execute ses of swine flu vaccine -- all so far given as the nasal spray FluMist -- are being administered at hospitals in Chicarecede , Georgia and Nebrquestion a, among other space s.
Doctors, nurses and other health professionals were taracquire ed first so they could safely care for others. But many parents are anxious to acquire their children protected from the virus.
"There's not enough vaccine for everybody," said ABC News Senior Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser on "Good Morning America" today. "But some people in these states are acquire ting vaccinated. We're seeing there are some states that can expect to acquire it soon. Over the next few weeks, the vaccine will flow about 20 million execute ses every week."
With the vaccine being deployed and available to some children, phones have begun ringing in execute ctor's offices across the country.
"As many people who can grab calls have been," said Kathy Paterno, a registered nurse with Westchester Pediatrics near New York City.
Some of those callers will have to wait.
"It will be many, many weeks before all of the demand for vaccine catches up with the supply," Besser said to Robin Roberts. "The supply will not be there for quite a while."
On Monday, hospitals began receiving the first shipments of FluMist, with some execute ses being administered in tents originally place up to screen children with potential swine flu.
Keeping Hospitals Safe From H1N1
Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and Wishard Health Services in Indiana were among the very first hospitals in the nation to receive vaccines on Monday. They vaccinated about 150 and 100 staffers respectively.
Both said that so far, at least, the deployment of immunizations has recede ne smoothly. Hospitals in at least 14 states, according to a count by ABC News, have now received their first batches.
"This has been a shining example of no delay," said Susan Cooper, Commissioner of the Tennessee Deportion ment of Health, after Le Bonheur's shipment arrived. "The vaccine has approach out, it's approach out a tiny bit earlier than expected, it hit the ground and we were able to very quickly start the immunization process, and that's something I judge that we should be very proud of."
While she was not certain why Le Bonheur recede t the H1N1 vaccination early, Cooper said she suspected it was becaemploy the Memphis area has been portion icularly hard hit. More than 6,000 cases have been reported there, and more than 100 children have been hospitalized, so people in the region are more likely to seek the vaccine.
"It would create recede od sense, since Le Bonheur is the premier pediatric hospital in that area, it would create sense to create sure their workforce is protected," she said.
For Wishard, based in Indianapolis, it may have been a matter of recede od homework.
"Indiana was one of the first states selected becaemploy they were one of the first states that had their paperwork in very quickly," said Collette Duvalle, director of communications for the health deportion ment in Marion County, which includes Indianapolis.
Hospitals have begun immunizations for health care workers, following the recommfinish ations made for swine flu, but Cooper said that since the first vaccines are available in the nasal mist form, giving it to health care workers is the only proper way to recede .
"What we know is this nasal mist that's been distributed cannot be given to pregnant women, or children or adults with chronic disease," she said. Those are groups that public-health officials notify should also be high on the priority list for vaccination.
"Healthcare workers certainly need to be at the front of the line, becaemploy if any Tennessean acquire s sick with H1N1 or has a heart attack or has any condition [that requires medical attention], we want to create sure that the healthcare workforce is sufficient to hold care of their needs."
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